Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (trading as Foxconn) is the world's biggest maker of electronic components. Its clients include the world's best known electronics and information technology companies, and products manufactured at its plants include iPads, iPhones, iPods for Apple, Kindles for Amazon, PlayStations for Sony and Xboxes for Microsoft.

The two buses were taking Foxconn workers to a dormitory from the company's plant in Zhengzhou at the time of collision. Photo: EPA

At least seven people were killed and more than 20 injured in a crash between two shuttle buses carrying employees of electronics giant Foxconn yesterday morning in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province.

Foxconn Technology later confirmed in a statement that both buses were bringing workers from the company's facility in Zhengzhou to an off-campus employee dormitory when the accident occurred at around 8.45am.

An unnamed witness was quoted by China News Service as saying that a westbound bus rammed into the side of another driving north, causing the hit bus to overturn. Both buses were said to have "Foxconn" written on them.

"At this time, we can confirm that there were at least seven fatalities and more than 20 injured employees," the Foxconn statement said, adding that the wounded were treated or immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

The statement added that representatives from Foxconn's labour union, human resources department and other relevant personnel had already visited the hospital and were working with local government officials to provide support to the families of the affected employees.

The accident came one week after thousands of workers went on strike, demanding pay raises, at an electronics factory in Jiangxi province that was reportedly a supplier of the local Foxconn branch.

Foxconn, which assembles Apple's iPhones, employs about 1.2 million workers on the mainland, including some 200,000 in Zhengzhou.

The company said early this month that authorities were investigating whether at least one of its executives accepted bribes from suppliers.

Separately, a Hong Kong-based rights group said more than 1,000 workers went on strike this month over conditions at a plant linked to Foxconn.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Foxconn shuttle busescrash, killing 7 workers